Life of a Thief by Ryou Bakura

A/N: Sage: Ah so many reviews! So many wonderful positive reviews!! I'm so glad!! Yes, me, I'm happy ^_^ See happy icon?

Kaley: (sweatdrop) Um, Sage…me thinks you need help. Anyways, back to the reviewers…lots of crying I noticed, which is actually a good thing! I mean, I feel bad that I made people sad but I realized it's because the story is so heart wrenching and well written…err at least that's what I'll go with. ^^;;;

Bakura: Blah…ick, touchy feely crap…so yeah a lot of you are mad at the idiot Yami now which is very good! But…yeah technically he didn't do anything. He was busy hiding in pots around the palace so he probably didn't even notice any guards left. But hey, I like people hating him. Hate away dear reviewers!

Sage: Now I'm also glad to see so many people now see Bakura's past and go "Wow. No wonder he's the way he is" and this is just the beginning of his life as a thief.

Kaley: Also for anyone wondering, after a few days all the reviews were visible so thank Ra huh?  Glad everyone tried to help too, thanks a million!

Bakura: Lemme think, what else we need to cover…oh yeah. Malik_Ishtal0607 pointed out two good things. One, that we slipped up and called Marik by both names (we'll fix that soon as possible) and second that we are actually using Yu-Gi-Oh's plot. I mean, it's a tiny portion and this really doesn't fit into the plot per say but we are using it.

Sage: One more thing…this story is dedicated to my Imouto-san Saakura but this chapter is a tribute to Yu-Gi-Oh in general. After all…for those who don't know the manga ended in Japan. That's right, no more Yu-Gi-Oh manga. The anime will no doubt end as soon as they do the memory arc and of course, the final duel. Depressing huh?

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"Hey, Ryou…" Ryou stopped in cutting the sandwich in front of him and turned to the kitchen door. Bakura stood, looking thoughtfully over his lighter side. Ryou made a small gesture for him to continue his sentence then went back to slicing. "Well, are you…uh you…do you want to take a break? I mean you know you look tired."

"Well…can you blame me?" Ryou took a deep breath. "Bakura, why haven't you ever told anyone this?"

"Why should I?" The white haired man said. "It's my damn life, no one else's. They don't need to know what happened to me in the past."

"Well maybe if you told people what happened to you they wouldn't think you're so…so…uh…" Ryou frowned, trying to find the word.

"Psycho? Insane? Crazy? Mad? Power hungry? A raving lunatic bent on destroying everything and being the most powerful being alive?" Bakura suggested with a grin. Ryou rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Bakura, see what I mean? Maybe if you acted a little different or told someone your real story you wouldn't have to put up with so much crap." The teen said, pausing to grab a pair of gloves off the table. "Anyway, it's none of my business really I guess but…hm…I'm seeing you in a new light, so why shouldn't others?"

"New light? What the hell are you talking about? I have no light in me remember? Pure darkness?" Bakura said as Ryou handed him that sandwich. "What, I need to eat this while we walk?" He groaned when the light nodded.

"Whatever you say Bakura…" Ryou smiled mysteriously, knowing his actions were causing his yami grief. "Well anyways, we going or not?"

"Oh, uh right…let's get out then…"

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For the time of day it was, the streets had hardly any people on it. A beautiful clear afternoon like this one, especially on winter break, usually meant lots of pedestrians coming and going from the stores. Today though, Bakura and Ryou seemed to wander the streets alone. Ryou was wearing his coat and hat but he had barely managed to outfit his darker side with the gloves and scarf that he was currently eyeing with obvious displeasure.

"Bakura, it's winter." Ryou pointed out. Bakura glared at him and tugged roughly on his black trench coat.

"Hey, I'm wearing my coat!" Bakura complained. "I don't need gloves and all this stuff you gave me…"

"A trench coat doesn't count as a real coat."

"Yeah it does! It has the word coat in it, so it must be a coat."

"Fine but if you get a cold I'm not going to feel sorry for you." Ryou sighed and jammed his hands into his warm pockets. Every so often, he stop looking at the stores and the winter grey sky and turn his attention towards Bakura. He'd never really thought that they looked alike. Sure, to the casual observer they probably looked like twins. Yet when Ryou looked at him, he saw that they really weren't twins at all. Ryou himself always walked slowly and cautiously, his eyes were called 'big and caring like a puppy's' and his hair was long and, though he hated admitting it, soft and girl like.

"You know…stores are harder to steal from now…they put all that fancy shit up to protect their wares…" Bakura commented suddenly, interrupting Ryou's thoughts, "But I could still do it. They just make themselves bigger targets with more security." Ryou raised an eyebrow and stared at Bakura, who stared right back. "What? I'm making small talk…Ra…what would you like me to talk about?"

"Nothing in particular." Ryou grinned. "You can talk about whatever you want to, I'll listen."

"Fine, then I'll tell you why I don't need these gloves…" As Bakura went on about the problems with gloves, Ryou allowed himself to fall back into his previous thoughts. Bakura was of course, very different from himself. His walk was more brisk and not as gracefully, yet full of his cocky attitude. His eyes were usually narrowed and not at all inviting or gentle. Even his hair was spiky and jagged, very unlike Ryou's hair. Bakura lived up to his title of the "Dark Spirit of the Ring" fairly well. Yet on the other hand, when talked of his past, his eyes softened a little and grew warmer, his voice became calmer and his entire aura changed into something not so evil. There was something inside him that was light…it hadn't died along with the city of Kuru Eruna. It was still in there and Ryou decided that he was going to find it and make it grow. He didn't care if his dark side remained egotistical and cocky forever, if only he'd be nicer.

"Bakura, do you miss your sister?" Ryou asked. Bakura missed a step but continued walking as though it was nothing.

"Do I miss Akila?" Bakura repeated slowly. "That's a very strange question…what are you planning Ryou?"

"I just want to know more about you."

"…Very well…" Bakura looked him over suspiciously but then seemed to shrug it off. "I do…I do miss Akila but I don't think you quite understand me yet. You seem to think that you can help me or something, correct? Well…there's still more to my story that you don't know…and then, after all that, I stayed locked up in that ring…" He paused, reaching out and resting a hand on Ryou's chest where the ring was located. "I stayed in there, alone, for 3,000 years. That is a long time to sit in darkness with that kind of life being all I knew. It's a long time to think…"

"But Bakura…maybe this will help you." Ryou said. "Maybe talking about it could help…I know that's a long time to think about your life and especially your life but I think it will help."

"Really?" Bakura grinned, crossing his arms. "You think that by me talking about my past to you, that I will suddenly become the kind, sweet, loving yami that you want? That way you'll stop feeling jealous of Yugi?"

"Huh?" Ryou was taken aback. "No, that's not at all what I want…"

"I can look into your soul…" Bakura said quietly. "I know things about you…more than you'll ever know and I do know that you hate it when Yami and Yugi are together, being stupid but being happy nonetheless. You want something like that. A connection like that…you don't have any strong bonds friends wise. You don't have any family ties. Then there's me." He smirked. "Another problem all together."

"You're trying to put words in my mouth." Ryou accused. "Maybe I would like it if you were different but can you blame me? I mean, put yourself in my shoes for once. You used me to get whatever you desired and never even considered what I wanted or how I felt. You just wanted your stupid power and revenge. It did hurt but I decided you were an evil bastard. Now I'm seeing that you aren't as bad as I thought but but…"

"I did use you…" Bakura smiled. "But I never once hurt you…err, intentionally of course. If you must know, the only one that I really even remotely cared for during that whole time was you. I refused to put you, your soul anyway, in unnecessary danger. I put myself up before I'd hurt you."

"Huh?" Ryou was surprised, he'd never known this or even thought it. "But you…you stabbed my arm when you made that contract with Marik and…and when you played that board game against Yami, you used that game piece to-"

"Ah but I was in control of your body." Bakura explained. "I like pain but I did not put you in pain. Though I'm sure you were a bit sore after that…but you can ask that idiot Pharaoh why he won against me. Ask him sometime, who affected the outcome of our battles and he'll say you did."

"So you're saying that the reason Yami is able to beat you is because of me?"

"Well…more or less. You always mess things up somehow." Bakura smiled but now his light side felt angry.

"So now you're really saying I'm just a stupid burden to you?" Ryou cried, causing a few passersby to stop. A couple of people were already watching them on the other side of the street but only Bakura seemed aware of this.

"Yes, you are a burden." Bakura said, the smile still on his face. "But really now, you should know me a bit better. You may be a burden to me but think about it. If all you were was a burden, they now that I have my own body, I could have just killed you." Ryou's eyes widened and Bakura laughed. "You see? But you're still alive. So you're not just a burden to me."

"Then what am I to you?" Ryou asked. He was thoroughly confused now and wasn't quite sure what to expect from Bakura's answer. But the man didn't say anything, he just stood there with the same old cocky grin on his face. "Well??"

"Well…" Bakura hesitated then shrugged. "You're my lighter half. I…I…"

"So then I'm a burden and you're lighter half? That's all?"

"I…I don't know how to word it!" Bakura shouted, causing the people staring at them to quickly walk away. "I'm just…you're not just…you're making this very difficult! Ra…you don't get what I'm trying to tell you, you're so dense! I'm saying I won't let anything happen to you!" He yelled his last sentence so loud that it echoed through the street and in Ryou's head. Bakura sighed heavily, his cheeks turning the slightest shade of pink under Ryou's amazed stare. "Yeah well…anyway let's go get dinner. That sandwich you made was terrible, I need some real food to wash it down…" Bakura stalked off, trying not to look at Ryou.

"Bakura…I uh…" Ryou blinked many times before he finally unfroze and ran after the darker man.

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The diner was quiet as the sun started to set. A jingle noise alerted everyone there that newcomers had arrived. A couple sat at the barstools, grinning widely at each other. An older man was seated in the corner by the door and glared at Ryou and Bakura when they entered. Bakura threw him the same look back, grabbed Ryou and dragged him to the booth farthest from the other people. They sat down and Bakura immediately occupied himself with the menu while Ryou looked out the window. A waitress came over, running her fingers through her blond hair and winking seductively at the teens.

"Well hi there, what can I get you two hotties?" She asked with a big grin.

"Umm…I want…today's special looks good I guess…" Ryou said, looking up at the marquee under the diner sign.

"I want the hamburger, rare, raw as you can get it ok?" Bakura handed her the menu and she giggled.

"Ohh, you like your meat raw huh? I think that's sexy…" She blushed and looked them over. "Are you two twins?"

"No." They said in unison.

"Err, I mean, we aren't but we do look alike…" Bakura laughed. "Well, it's hard to explain…our relationship."

"Ohh, I get it…" She pouted, "You too are together huh? Oh that kind of thing makes me a little…uhh…excited you know? I really like those kinds of relationships, especially if they're more intimate. Well let me watch sometime ok? I'll stop embarrassing myself now. I'll go get your meals!" She left and Bakura snickered quietly.

"Ha, us together, that's some sick joke." Bakura laughed and even Ryou giggled. However, only a few seconds later they both suddenly felt awkward and silence drifted over their table.

"Um…Bakura…" He looked up from scratching his nails on the table. "I'm sorry to be a burden sometimes…"

"Eh, it's not your fault…well, yeah it is." Bakura seemed oddly nervous. Ryou considered this fact with great curiosity until an answer slowly appeared to him. Maybe the Thief King, who'd often took every possible moment he could to show Ryou how much he hated him, maybe he'd realized that he liked Ryou. Maybe not liked everything about him or even remotely enough to think of him as a friend but maybe he saw something in Ryou worth protecting. And maybe yelling it to the world in a moment of frustration had upset him. It was the only solution gentler boy could think of. Of course, he wouldn't want anyone to know he might actually care for someone other than himself…so maybe that was the burden Ryou currently manifested.

"Bakura…thanks…I think…" Ryou laughed and shook his head, pushing his hair out of his eyes. "You're very odd you know that? You should look into some therapy."

"What's gotten into you?" Bakura blinked. "I thought I was less sane than you…but uh…what are you thanking me for?"

"I'm not sure really." Ryou said as the waitress came back and set their food on the table with another pout. They stopped talking until she'd left them. "I guess…you've…" He paused. What if, by pointing out Bakura's change, he angered him so much that things went right back to square one? He didn't want that…back when Bakura always screamed and howled like some animal in rage and hatred. In those days, he'd been very liable to hurt himself and sometimes Ryou, though he'd fix up the wound afterwards in a half-assed apology. Eventually, his mind cleared up enough for him to focus on his goal of collecting all the Millennium Items. Now he was different…he seemed to like his life now. He didn't yell at Ryou as much and on some days seemed to forget his mission to kill the Pharaoh. Why he changed was a mystery though. "Is it intentional?" He wondered out loud. Bakura sighed and glared at him.

"Would you quit talking? You're not making any sense at all." He muttered, shoved a piece of the bright red meat into his mouth. A bit of red juice, which Ryou hoped was not blood, dripped down his lips. Ryou's lip curled slightly with disgust. "What?"

"Nothing…listen, I just want you to know that I'm getting happier with…well, with my life I guess." Ryou smiled as Bakura slowed down his eating pace.

"Happier huh?" Bakura swallowed and chugged down his drink. "That's nice…what's so good about it now?"

"You." Ryou blurted out, then laughed nervously as Bakura's mouth hung open somewhat. "I mean, you um…you seem…"

"Yeah same here." The thief said gruffly, chewing on his raw meat. "I know what you're talking about now. Why didn't you just so say earlier?"

"So then…wait…" Ryou frowned and laid his head back on the seat, ignoring his food. "Are you…so you know you've…changed?"

"Yeah so what? You want the old me back?" Bakura smirked. "Because I can do that very easily."

"No, no…that's not what I meant…" The light groaned and shook his head. "Ah never mind! I give up…let's just eat…"

"You weirdo…" Bakura mumbled. They finished their meal in an uncomfortable silence.

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By the time they'd finished eating and escaped the strange waitress the streetlights had clicked on. The bright glow scattered oddly shaped shadows all over the sidewalk and on top of houses and darkened stores. Ryou shivered as a cold wind blew out from an alley they passed and was surprised when Bakura suddenly moved closer to him.

"You get cold too easy." The yami muttered, pulling Ryou over to him. "You've lived here a while, shouldn't you be used to winter yet?"

"Well…why aren't you cold?" Ryou pouted. "You lived where the temperature was always hot so shouldn't this be terrible to you?" Bakura was silent for a few moments as they continued down the street. Ryou thought he'd forgotten the question until he cleared his throat.

"You remember, when I used the shadow realm as a short cut? How I took us both through it and you nearly fainted?" Bakura asked. Ryou nodded so that the other could carry on his sentence. "Well, do you remember how cold it was? It was very cold and it only grows colder the more you hate something…I bet that stupid Pharaoh had a nice warm stay for his 3,000 years but mine just kept getting colder. You probably didn't feel too cold, maybe just chilly?"

"Yeah, it was nippy in there…" Ryou said thoughtfully. "But I wasn't feeling any hate when you took me there."

"Doesn't matter, it's a cumulative effect. All the hate you've felt in your life and at that moment. So mine was very cold." Bakura kicked a stone that had been lying foolishly in his path. It flew against a brick building, ricocheting noisily into the street. "So you haven't felt much hate but enough to fell cold…stupid…he probably only hated me and maybe that one priest of his…damn him…Ra…"

"Why do you hate him if he didn't do anything to you?" Ryou was hesitant to ask but he really wanted to know, after all, it wasn't very logically to hate someone for no reason.

"Why? I need a motive?" The thief king turned to his companion. "Well, I won't go into detail yet but…the Pharaoh who was in power then, that idiot's father, died before I could get to him. So, it only makes sense to hate little Yugi's other half."

"You don't really make any sense at all…" Ryou groaned, putting his palm to his forehead. "Do you even make sense in your own head?"

"Of course I do, well, most of the time…" Bakura flashed a grin but then suddenly became quite serious. "Actually…you know, I do have my reasons…"

"Reasons? What kind of reasons?"

"…I…I've found a few reasons…reasons…" Bakura's voice trailed off and Ryou tried opening the mental link. He could hear the man muttering to himself. "I've found my reason…for everything…to start again…"

"To start what?"  Ryou asked, forgetting what he was doing. Bakura gave a start and stared at the light side. "Umm, sorry but you made me curious…"

"Do I invade your thoughts?!" Bakura demanded, sending Ryou an unusually fierce look. The boy jumped and backed away. "Damn it! Don't eavesdrop on me like that! From now on maybe I should listen to you when you're trying to have a moment to yourself! I respect your mind why not return the favor?"

"What's wrong with you?" Ryou felt very upset by Bakura's tone. He didn't need to snap like this, he'd only listened for a few seconds. "I only peeked into the mental link and besides you listen to my dreams! Those are personal!"

"Yeah well you aren't coherent when you dream." Bakura protested. "So it's no big deal…" He sighed and took a deep breath. "Ok, fine, I won't listen to your dreams anymore and you never ever even think about looking into my head again. Alright, good for you?" Ryou gave a small nod, deciding it best to remain silent. He wasn't sure what was wrong but now the yami's outburst had made him even more curious. This reason thing…it was something new. It also explained a lot. Whatever this change was that Bakura was going through, there was a reason. Obviously, it was something he didn't want to talk about.

"…When you're ready, tell me your reason." Ryou said, finally breaking the tension floating between them. Bakura opened his mouth, no doubt ready with another reply but Ryou held up his hand. "I don't care what you have to say right now. Just…promise me, after I've finished writing this report…that you'll tell me. Tell your reason…ok?" He smiled and walked ahead of the other, a small bit of happiness returning to him.

"Ryou…" Bakura called, just loud enough for the boy to hear. He turned and saw the dark side standing under the streetlamp. For reasons beyond Ryou's explanation, the thief looked happy. Maybe it was the lamp above him that cast a gentle light or the snow that had begun to fall in eerie glowing white flakes. He wasn't sure, but standing there…not only did Bakura look happy…he looked beautiful. A weird thought for sure, but he looked amazing in the boy's eyes. Ryou put one of his gloved hands to his cheeks, vaguely aware of how red they were. "Heh…" Bakura grinned and walked out of the light, until he stood so close to his other half that their noses nearly touched. Ryou could feel his warm breath against his face, causing more blood to rush to the area. They stared unblinkingly into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity. "Ryou, I promise you that after you've heard my story, if you still like me after that…then I'll tell you my reason. Thief's honor."

"L…Like you…?" Ryou repeated in an oddly high voice.

"Yes, like me." Bakura laughed and shook his head. "Or do you still hate me? The way you've been acting, I figured you didn't anymore. Ah, my mistake I guess…No, don't talk." He said as his other opened his mouth. "Just think about it before you talk. Tell me in the morning. In case you didn't notice, we're home. And I'm going to bed." With that he went into the house, letting Ryou stand in the growing snow for a few minutes. His cheeks still flushed, he went inside to write his story.

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Bakura's Pad of Paper Part 2

Damn it, here I am again! Writing on this stupid paper because I CAN'T SLEEP!! HEY, I LIKE WRITING IN ALL CAPITALS. MAYBE I SHOULD WRITE THIS WHOLE DAMN THING LIKE THIS. Or maybe not…I think my pen is running out of ink. Wonder if Ryou's got one in his room. Nah, I won't bug him. Wait, Nah is more of a sound…is that how you spell it? Why am I asking myself questions again?! Is it too late to make a New Year's Resolution? Mine should be to stop asking myself questions when I don't have the fucking answer. I like swear words…I don't get why cursing is frowned upon. It's so stupid…I'll swear as much as I damn well please! That bitchy friendship girl hates it when I swear. What's her name? Beer? Something like that, doesn't matter.

I think I hear Ryou typing. Wonder why he's still up…why's he hit the keys so hard? I'm not stealing him a new keyboard if he breaks that one. He can buy himself a new one.

He's been freaky all day, he better knock it off. What's his problem, does he still think I'm going to kill him?? Can I use more than one question mark? Oh well, my paper not some English teacher's. Why don't you learn English in English class? It's more a reading/grammar/writing class……I'm off topic again…

OK, Ryou, let's think about Ryou for a few minutes since I'm so off topic…damn paper, don't judge me-

Problems:

Sarcastic

Rude

He listened to my thoughts!

He smiles too much

He asks me a lot of questions…

He hangs out with the Pharaoh and his groupies…

He's still typing…

He's not telling me what he's typing…

I think he left the light in the kitchen on…

He either does things when I tell him to or yells at me and defies me, never just can say no…

He gets pissed when I steal things.

He's my light

Good Qualities:

See Above shit…

Ok, like that makes sense. But it's true…did I just use the word like? What am I, some preppy high school girl that giggles over hot guys and shit?

…I wonder if Akila would have ever giggled over some guy…she'd like Ryou…he's nice and really cares about people…he'd be good for her…light and light…

…why couldn't I be a light too? This is all the Pharaoh's fault…he ruined my life…

…and why am I still telling this to a paper?! Stupid paper, I curse you!!! Never tell my secrets got it?! If you do, I'll show you one of the many wonderful torture methods!!

Wait, paper can't feel pain…damn it…

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Life of a Thief

The slaughter of Kuru Eruna was the turning point in Bakura's life. It's entirely possible that there would have been no Thief King Bakura if it had not happened. The Pharaoh wouldn't have made such a terrible enemy if it had not been for this event. During the massacre Bakura lost his mother, father and little sister, Akila. He was the only one spared. He even he to watch as the guards laughed and had their fun killing his family, as if it were some giant joke. He watched them set fire to his village and torture then kill all those in it. However, it was his family's deaths that hurt him the most.

His mother was from a foreign land and had long feathery white hair. Such hair was impossible in Egypt and caused her to stand out. From the sounds of it, she had a very loving relationship with her husband and children. Akila was born with her father's normal black hair but Bakura inherited his mother's trademark shade that would later help people identify him.

Bakura was a bit of an outcast among the other children in his village but he and his younger sister formed a bond stronger than most siblings would. This may be why her death haunted his sleeping and waking moments. He loved her more than he loved anyone else and her death reshaped his future.

He blames himself for everything that happened but rather then fall into a depression like most, he decided to let his anger and fear grow. His hatred would boil over and his rage would be unleashed upon Egypt. Bakura would soon become a devil in human guise…but at that moment, he was only an eight-year-old boy, shivering in the desert crying…

A/N: Sage: Ahh, heh ^^;;; longer chapter than normal eh?

Kaley: Gah, I feel sooooo rushed!!

Bakura: Hey, tell them the news!

Sage: Oh yeah, something called Yu-Gi-Oh R is coming out…weird huh? (shrugs) No clue what it is but hey, it might be good right?

Kaley: I really hope you all liked this chapter and we'll be back soon with the next installment!!

Bakura:…that's a big word for you…anyways, thanks for the great reviews. Lots of them too, amazing tell you what…amazing ^_^

Sage: (nods) Until next time, review and we'll see you soon.